Trust In Love - Chapter 261

A guy with caramel hair stood near the van. He decided to stay behind while everyone else went ahead. His brown eyes watched as Max looked for a place to escape.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

“Colin!” Alex exclaimed when she reached the SUV. “So you’re the designated driver, huh? None of them are giving you a break?”

“The only other person that can drive his uncle’s van is Lauren.” Jae informed, walking beside her. “He doesn’t trust any of us enough to do it.”

She crossed her arms over her ċhėst and thought for a moment. Then, she said, “I’d have to agree on that one.”

Chuckling, Colin gave her a wave. He pushed himself off the SUV. “Good to see you, Alex. Your bags are already in the back. Emily’s too. We’re ready to go if you are.”

The car door suddenly opened.

A head of deep brown hair popped out, followed by aegean eyes met. Strawberry pink lips smiled. “Hello, hello! Sorry! I was really into an episode just now. I couldn’t think of anything else.”

“Carla!” Alex blinked in surprise. A wide grin spread across her face. “I’m just honored you even came.”

“Well, either I come or Max is the 7th wheel.” Carla chuckled, climbing down the SUV. “Heard you had it rough with a classmate. Everything good now?”

“I highly doubt it.”

“Alex!” Max yelled. His legs sprinted for the group. They crowded around the van, minding their own business. He hid himself behind her. “Please save me from your stunning ever-so-gorgeous and forgiving cousin.”

Alex opened her mouth to reply but Carla beat her to it. “Why not hide inside the SUV and lock the doors?”

“Good idea!”

Max didn’t waste a second. He jumped from her back to the car door, scrambling to go inside. He pulled the lever and went straight to the backseat.

Before he could do anything else, Carla followed after. She took the spot next to him and trapped him to the window. Jae moved to their seat. As much as he’d love to sit by Emily, it wasn’t possible since only three people could fit together.

He doubted Logan would separate from Alex.

Emily would also want to sit by her cousin.

He would  just keep an eye on Max then.

“Why are you all here?!” Max exclaimed.

Carla hung her head. “Gods, that is so loud. I should have let Jae hop in first.”

“Want to switch?” Jae offered.

“Nah, I’ll endure it. You already do that enough.”

“What am I? An animal?” Max asked. Then, he thought better of it. “Never mind. Don’t answer that.”

In front of them, Logan slid on the seat. Alex climbed in after him. They left the last spot to Emily.

When she stood on the doorway, her cobalt eyes locked on Max and glared. She didn’t get him much this time but there would be plenty of opportunity. She watched him flinch under her stare. Her lashes fluttered.

It felt good to see him squirm.

She plopped onto her seat and pulled the door close. “So… what road trip game are we going to have around here? No one pay attention to their phones or I will break them.”

Once Lauren was inside, Colin rolled out of the parking lot. A GPS guided him back to Woodlands. The SUV joined the city traffic. Traffic not only meant more vehicles but also reckless drivers. He would have to pay attention closely.

Colin heaved a sigh. This would be a long drive.

Max was the first one to reply. “I am in! Other than Colin, no one else can protest.”

“What game would we even play?” Carla asked.

“21 Questions,” Emily answered, “Here is how it goes. You have to guess what I’m thinking from the 21 questions you have as a group. You also can’t repeat the same question if someone already asked it. Whoever guesses it right would have the next turn.”

“That actually sounds fun,” Carla commented. “Yeah, let’s do it.”

“So you listen to her ideas but not mine.” Max frowned in her direction.

“Because yours are lame.”

“Hey! ‘I Spy’ is a classic!”

“Alright, alright,” Emily intervened. She counted all the players and did a quick calculation. “Each person has 3 questions. You can ask in any order. Ready and… go!”

Alex fired her first question. “Is it food?”

“Nope.”

“Is it clothes?”

Her cousin shook her head, smiling. “Nope.”

Jae leaned forward. He folded his arms over the backrest. A mischievous smirk stretched his lips. “Is it me?”

Emily jabbed her elbow to his face. He ducked. His dodge made her fume. She put her hands on her hɨps and hissed at him, “Absolutely not. Dream on.”

“What a coincidence,” Jae fake gasped. “I do always dream of you.”

“…”

Alex laughed the loudest. Cobalt eyes glared at her, betrayal written all over them. A small smile teased Carla’s lips. Max gaped, covering his mouth. Pride pumped in his veins. He never felt more proud.

Logan merely shook his head.

If a fight suddenly broke out, his money was on Emily.

“Can I throw Jae out of the window?” Emily asked the group. Her arms itched to do something about that smug grin on his blasted ugly face.

“Uh-uh!” He protested. “You’re not the one asking questions. We are. Can you tell us a clue?”

Emily bit her inner cheek. “Fine. It’s an item.”

“Is it at your house right now?” Carla joined in.

“It’s not.”

Lauren looked over her shoulder. “Is it in this car?”

Emily shook her head again. “Not here either.”

“Is it something you would use to drink?” Colin spoke up. He turned the steering wheel to the left, following the path with least traffic.

“Interesting but no.”

“Is it at school?” Alex asked again. This would be her last question. She could only guess from here. A list of items began to gather in her head.

She just needed to narrow them down.

“Yes.”

“Your locker.”

Emily stuck her tongue out. “Nope.”

Logan narrowed his gaze. “Is it inside your locker?”

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“… maybe.”

“Hey!” Max objected when he heard Emily’s reponse. “That’s not allowed! That’s almost cheatin—you are so lovely. Please don’t kill me.”

Alex clicked her tongue, hiding a grin. She almost tasted victory. Only one item inside that locker mattered. It was the only one not related to school.

“It’s your autographed photo of Zac Efron.”

“Yep!” Emily beamed, giggling at her own cleverness. If no one had guessed it, she could always say Alex knew about it.

It wasn’t her fault if the rest didn’t.

Carla raised an eyebrow. “That’s oddly specific.”

“She just wanted to show it off.” Alex answered over her shoulder. Whenever possible, Emily did grab the chance to talk about it.

Her cousin simply shrugged, not seeing it as a problem at all. The answers could be anything. At least, she picked one of her treasures. That easily eliminates generic items.

Alex felt a nudge on her shoulder.

“Well, it’s your turn then,” Emily reminded her.

“Mine is a…” she thought out loud, gazing upwards. Her lips pursed in concentration.”… living creature.”

Six voices guessed in unison. Their timings and words were perfect as if they practiced it before or came into an agreement.

“It’s Logan.”

“Really, guys? Really?” Alex scoffed. Her face turned into a frown. Now, they sounded like they wanted to mock her. They knew her better than that.

She’d pick herself before she’d pick Logan as an answer. Heck, she’d pick the girls too before him.

They laughed at her expression. It only confirmed her theory. She glared at the carpet flooring.

Lauren checked the rearview mirror. Her eyes landed next to Alex’s reflection. “Only Logan didn’t say it.”

“That’s because I have a different guess.” He chuckled. He seemed relaxed in his seat, unworried about the game.

Alex shifted her gaze towards him. “What is it?”

He hid his confidence well but she could tell something was off. How sure was he about his answer? No one even asked a question yet.

Logan gave her a wide smile. “It’s Maylin.”

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“Why are you so quick?” She gaped. For a second, she wanted to change answers. The temptation seeped into her mind. Alas, it wouldn’t be fair to do so. She still wouldn’t cheat like that.

“I just know you really well.” Logan blew a kiss in her direction, winking.

“Can Alex guess what Logan’s thought would be?” Carla joked. It would be funny if they both got it right.

“It’s me,” Alex said.

“Well, look who is shameless.” Emily cooed behind her. She rested her chin on her cousin’s shoulder. “You scoff at us but you have the same answer for him.”

It was Alex’s turn to stick her tongue out. “I guessed that because he says it a lot in his messages.”

“That’s right. I do.” Logan nodded. “I’m so touched that you noticed and remembered it.”

Alex turned to look at him. She shook her head in disbelief. He didn’t even try anymore. His affections constantly came out even when in public. There wasn’t a filter to his words.

He also felt no shame about it.

“Whipped.” Max coughed.

Jae mimicked him—except his came out louder. He had pulled it out deep in his ċhėst. “Very whipped.”

Before Logan could say a comeback, another cough came from the driver’s seat.

“You’re just losers.”